Today in the MHSAA: 4/21/16

April 21, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly

Second Half editor

Top-10 baseball teams in Division 1 both won and lost to lead Thursday’s headlines from around the state, and news broke that we’ll wave good-bye this spring to one of our longest-serving athletic directors.

Baseball

Division 1 No. 8 Bay City Western avenged last season’s Regional loss to Flushing with a doubleheader sweep, 8-2 and 15-4 – Midland Daily News

Macomb L’Anse Creuse North hung on for an 8-7 upset of Sterling Heights Stevenson, the No. 9-ranked team in Division 1 – Macomb Daily

Rochester Adams completed a three-game sweep of Oakland Activities Association Red rival Lake Orion with a 10-inning 1-0 win – Oakland Press

Girls Soccer

Kailey Yack’s two goals over the final eight minutes gave Stevensville Lakeshore a 4-2 win over Battle Creek Lakeview – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

Girls Tennis

Utica Eisenhower clinched a 5-3 win over Port Huron Northern with a comeback victory by Zuzanna Lutrzykowska at No. 3 singles – Macomb Daily

Track & Field

Ishpeming’s boys and girls swept Division 2 championships at the Superior Dome Classic, following Marquette’s Division 1 sweep Tuesday – Marquette Mining Journal

Administration

After 36 years at Kalamazoo Christian, influential athletic director Jerry Weesies will retire this spring – Kalamazoo Gazette

Holland West Ottawa Athletics Complex Recognized with National Award

December 12, 2023

Holland West Ottawa Public Schools’ new athletics complex, with architectural firm GMB, has been recognized as the top multi-field facility nationally by the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities.

West Ottawa’s new stadium consists of two turf playing fields. The west field was designed deliberately without a surrounding track to bring the stands and field closer together with a central tunnel beneath the grandstands for the home team to enter onto the field. The same synthetic turf, light posts, and state-of-the-art audio/video systems are utilized on both fields for an equitable experience for all users.

The band performs at Holland West Ottawa's athletics complex.Multiple ground-level entry points with access to the fields, barrier-free locker rooms and multiple seating options with elevator access also create accessibility for spectators, players, coaches, and support staff.

“This facility allows our students the opportunity to play in one of the premier complexes in the state of Michigan,” said Jeff Malloch, assistant superintendent of business services at West Ottawa Public Schools. “We have seen continued interest in lacrosse, football, and soccer, and this complex will be utilized by our community youth from elementary age to high school student-athletes.”

Adding elevated fan experiences, such as a concourse level between the upper and lower sections of the home stands, bigger bleachers, and updated concession stands and restrooms establish a venue for multiple sports and attract the entire community to utilize the facility.

“This is a one-of-a-kind facility for West Michigan, and it’s been wonderful to see student-athletes from across the state enjoy the complex’s unique amenities,” said Nate Bosch, a landscape architect with GMB. “The collaboration needed to make this project come to life was an inspiring process to be a part of, and we are so pleased to celebrate this accomplishment with West Ottawa.”

This is the first time a GMB project has been awarded a multi-field facility of the year honor by the ASBA. GMB also has received four Project of the Year honors in the outdoor tennis category and 20 distinguished awards from ASBA for other athletic facility projects over the past 12 years.

(Photos by M-Buck Studio.)